New Recipes for the New Year!

I thought it was about time I finally got around to posting some new recipes.  I am sure Ed and I are not the only ones hitting it hard, trying to get our weight back on track for our New Years Resolution.

I think one of the keys to sticking with a weight loss journey is to keep it interesting.  I like to try new things and when we find something new that we like, I like to share it.

I am sure you guys have already heard about the Fried Pickle recipe using a muffin pan.  I mean, it has been posted all over social media.  But just in case you haven’t heard of it, I am going to start with that one because we took that recipe and ran with it! 

I will only be posting step-by-step photos of one of the recipes because they are all basically the same.  We just changed up the  ingredients.  In fact, I won't even bore you with the full recipe.  

Easiest Ever Fried Pickles

Pickle Chips (as always, check the label to make sure you are getting 0 sugar, low carb pickles)
Shredded Cheese (any flavor, we've used Mozzarella, Pepper Jack, Taco Blend, Italian Blend, Cheddar)

Preheat oven to 400.

Place pickle chips in a single layer on paper towels and dry them off with another layer of paper towels.

Place a small amount of shredded cheese in the bottom of a mini-muffin pan.  Place a dried off pickle chip on top of the shredded cheese.  Top with a little more shredded cheese.

Bake at 400 for about 15 minutes.

Place on paper towels to cool (This also absorbs some of the oil as some cheeses leave them a little greasy.)

But, that’s it!  Super quick and super easy!

When cool, you can dip them in a low carb ranch dressing.

Ok – now use your own imagination and think about what else you can make in a muffin pan with cheese.  We’ve used the Mini Muffin pan and we’ve also used a regular sized muffin pan to make larger “Sliders” as we call them.

Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders

Ahead of time preparations: 

Fry up Ground Hamburger or Turkey into mini burgers or make slightly bigger patties and use a regular sized muffin pan. 

We used a small cookie scoop and it made perfect sized burgers for our Mini Muffin Pan.

You also need to dry some pickle chips.

And bake/fry/cook some bacon (unless you are using the Ready-to-Eat Bacon slices)

Now to make your Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders:

Put a layer of cheese in the bottom of your muffin pan.

Next, place your hamburger patty (or even just a layer of browned, ground beef) on top of the cheese.

Top with a small piece of cooked bacon. 

Add a dried off pickle chip on top of the bacon.  (You can also add onion or any other Bacon Cheeseburger topping you think we've missed)

Then top with another layer of cheese.  

Again, this can be any cheese of your choice.

Bake at 400 for about 15 minutes.  (If you are using a regular sized muffin pan you will have to bake it longer than 15 minutes.)

Unfortunately, I thought they needed to bake just a little bit longer and then I forgot about them, so they were a little burnt.  However, as you all know. I love burned cheese, so I liked them just fine!

To serve, you can dip them in Mustard, Sugar Free Ketchup, Hellmans's Mayo.  Maybe even top them with Lettuce and Tomato.  Or just eat them like this for a bite-sized bacon cheeseburger slider.

Another version we've tried and love:

Taco Sliders

Put a layer of Taco Blend Shredded Cheese in the bottom of your muffin pan.  Add a layer of browned ground beef flavored with taco Seasoning.  (Or cooked shredded chicken, flavored with taco seasoning)   Top with more shredded cheese and bake.

Once baked, served topped with your favorite taco toppings: Salsa, Sour Cream, Quacamole, Queso Cheese, Lettuce, tomato.

Breakfast Sliders

Tired of eggs? Here is a quick and easy, egg free breakfast.  Great for an on the go breakfast, in fact.

Fry up a pound of sausage.  (I like Bob Evans 0 carb sausage)

Then put a layer of cheese in your mini muffin pan.  Top with a layer of browned sausage.   Then top with more shredded cheese and bake for 10 minutes at 400.

Pizza Sliders

Layer cheese, browned sausage, pepperoni, chopped peppers, diced onions, sliced mushrooms (or your favorite pizza toppings) and top with more shredded cheese.  Bake at 400 for 10 minutes.

Serve topped with low carb marinara sauce and shredded Mozzarella Cheese.

Anyway, as you can see there are endless options for these sliders.  And the thing that makes them so perfect, is they bake in about 10 minutes.  So if you have a little bit of leftover meat from the night before, you can put together a pretty quick and simple keto friendly lunch in no time!

I challenge you to see what awesome creations you can come up with too.